As Cillian Murphy’s earlier action outing in Anna slices its way up the streaming charts, the entertainment world is abuzz with anticipation for his next big-screen return in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Meanwhile, Lionsgate, a powerhouse in film and now gaming, is doubling down on its commitment to bring some of its most iconic franchises—think John Wick and Saw—to the fast-growing world of video games. Together, these developments reveal a media landscape where the lines between cinema and interactive entertainment are blurring faster than ever.
Murphy, who won fresh acclaim for his Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer, is no stranger to transformation. In 2019, he co-starred in the action thriller Anna alongside Helen Mirren and Luke Evans. The film follows a young woman who carves out a double life as both a high-fashion professional and one of the world’s deadliest assassins—a premise that had all the makings of a cult classic. According to Collider, Anna is currently streaming on MovieSphere by Lionsgate in the U.S. and is climbing into the Video On Demand (VOD) top 10 in France and several other countries as of early January 2026.
Despite its surging popularity with audiences, Anna was not exactly a darling of the critics. The film, written and directed by Luc Besson, earned a meager 34% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 73 reviews, as reported by Collider. However, viewers were far more generous, awarding it an 81% score on the audience-driven Popcornmeter. The movie grossed $30 million at the box office, a modest but respectable sum for a genre flick. Besson, never one to rest on his laurels, is already gearing up to direct a new take on Dracula starring Christoph Waltz.
Why the sudden resurgence of interest in Anna? It’s partly due to the tidal wave of excitement surrounding Murphy’s return as Thomas Shelby in the upcoming Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Fans old and new are seeking out his past performances as they await the sequel film, which promises to plunge Shelby back into Birmingham during the throes of World War II, embroiling him in covert missions. The film, penned by Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper, will see Murphy joined by Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan, adding even more star power to the already electric cast.
For those marking their calendars, the release dates are set: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man lands in select theaters on March 6, 2026, and will debut on Netflix worldwide two weeks later, on March 20. As Collider notes, Netflix has been experimenting with this staggered release model for some of its biggest films, such as Train Dreams starring Joel Edgerton and A House of Dynamite with Idris Elba. This approach seems to be paying off, building anticipation and maximizing viewership across platforms.
Murphy’s career, meanwhile, continues to flourish. Beyond Anna and his imminent return as Tommy Shelby, he recently appeared in the Netflix original drama Steve and the 2024 drama Small Things Like These. And for fans of apocalyptic horror, he’s set to star in a third 28 Years Later movie, currently in development at Sony. It’s clear that Murphy’s versatility and star power remain undiminished, fueling audience interest across genres and mediums.
But the excitement isn’t limited to film and streaming. Lionsgate, the studio behind Anna and distributor of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, is making bold moves in the realm of video games. According to Vijesti, Lionsgate CEO Adam Fogelson recently confirmed that the company is developing new games based on the Saw horror franchise and the action-packed world of John Wick. Fogelson teased even more announcements on the horizon, hinting at possible games based on other blockbuster properties like Twilight, The Hunger Games, American Psycho, and Blair Witch.
“We recognize a huge increase in interest, but also opportunities when it comes to video games, and we will keep an eye on that. So I think you will see big financial breakthroughs this year,” Fogelson remarked, as reported by Vijesti. The company’s strategy is clear: tap into the fervor that fans have for their favorite cinematic universes and offer them new ways to engage, interact, and immerse themselves in these stories.
The move isn’t without precedent. The Saw franchise has already seen video game adaptations, most notably the 2009 survival horror title Saw: The Video Game, which placed players in the shoes of former police detective David as he navigated a nightmarish psychiatric institution filled with deadly traps. A sequel, Saw 2: Flesh and Blood, followed in 2010, though it failed to make a major splash with critics or gamers. Meanwhile, a prequel John Wick video game was released in 2019, and Lionsgate’s interest in expanding this universe into interactive media has only grown since then.
As Fogelson and gaming industry commentators have noted, the challenge—and the opportunity—lies in capturing the kinetic energy and gun-fu style that made John Wick a global phenomenon. "If a way could be found to transfer to video games the energy that John Wick has with guns in the movies, that would be incredible," one gaming portal observed, underscoring the high expectations for any future adaptation.
Adding to the anticipation, a fifth John Wick movie is currently in development, with Keanu Reeves set to reprise his role as the titular assassin. This multi-pronged approach—expanding beloved franchises across film, streaming, and gaming—reflects a broader trend in the entertainment industry, where studios are increasingly looking to build interconnected worlds that keep fans engaged across platforms.
As 2026 unfolds, all eyes are on Lionsgate and its roster of stars, both on screen and in the virtual world. Whether you’re a fan of Cillian Murphy’s brooding anti-heroes, a devotee of pulse-pounding action, or a gamer hungry for your next immersive experience, there’s never been a better time to be at the intersection of film and gaming. The only question left: which screen will you choose next?
